Owning and running a pet store can be a fulfilling business endeavor for any entrepreneur who loves animals. The pet industry is well established and diverse, with retail shops of many kinds serving the public. The American Pet Products Association estimates expenditures of nearly $53 billion on pets in the United States in 2012. Alert store owners are always thinking of new marketing ideas that might improve their stores' sales performance and profitability.

Step 1

Assess the performance of your business. Do this from time to time with the objective of finding ways to raise the store's profile in the local market and gain new customers. Set goals for increasing sales. Be open to new ideas.

Step 2

Improve the product displays in the store. Be sure that the best-selling items are the easiest to find and that they occupy prime shelf space. Consider removing items that aren't selling.

Step 3

Offer pet-grooming services if you have room at the store. If in-store grooming isn't feasible, ally yourself with a good groomer and refer your customers there. Advertise the service in your store and negotiate a referral fee with the groomer.

Step 4

Arrange a series of classes or seminars in the store on topics of interest to pet owners. These might include dog training, teaching birds to talk and fish tank maintenance.

Step 5

Sponsor classes on how to make healthful pet snacks at home. Use a location with a spacious commercial kitchen. Arrange to have books on the subject available for sale.

Step 6

Reach out to potential customers by visiting local dog runs and parks. Give business cards to the pet owners you meet and offer discounts for first-time shoppers. Give away low-cost pooper scoopers.

Step 7

Raise your shop's profile by assisting the local ASPCA. Let that organization and others place brochures and other material in the store. One way to do this is to dedicate a small space, such as a shelf and a bulletin board, to this "good will" activity.

Step 8

Advertise. See what works the best for you. Try placing low-cost ads in school publications and church bulletins. Consider sponsoring a Little League team.

Step 9

Upgrade the store's website. Enable users to order products through the website. Earn commissions for the store by becoming an affiliate of the various online vendors of pet products. Become an affiliate of Amazon and earn commissions on sales of pet books and other products.

Step 10

Increase your awareness of trends in the pet industry by subscribing to trade magazines and newsletters. They might provide useful information on best-selling pet store products.

Tip

Your accountant, attorney and insurance agent should have experience working with retail businesses.

Resources

About the Author

Charles Crawford, a former commercial banker, has been a business writer in New York since 1990. He has produced marketing materials for an executive outplacement firm, written the quarterly newsletter of a medical nonprofit organization and created financing proposals/business plans. Crawford holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Science in international affairs from Florida State University.